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T. ALLSOP AND w. w. SIBSON.

DRYING AND CARBONIZING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19. 1919.

1 ,326', 1 6 1 Y Patented Dec. :30, 1919.

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS TO THE PHILADELPHIA DRYING MACHINERY COMPANY, vOF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, THOMAS ALLSOP an WALTER W.. SIBsoN, citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful, Improvements in Drying and Carbonizing Machines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates. to machines designed for the subjection of textile miaterials, such as rags, shoddy, etc., to drying and carbonizing or other analogous processes.

The invention is directed to a unified structure in which a series of separate steps (of the above character may be practised and in which the chambers in which the different treatments take place are entirely independent of one another, so that difl'erent atmospheric or other conditions may be maintained in each to the exclusion of any relative modifying influence between them. The invention is also directed to a unique conveying system by which the materials under treatment are successively transferred from one treating compartment to another without causing any direct inter-communication between them.

In the drawings, Figure I, is a longitudinal sectional elevation through a, drying and carbonizing machine conveniently illustrating our mvention.

Fig. II, is a transverse sectional view of the same.

The structure herein illustrated has been arbitrarily shown as a drying and carbonizing machine. Materials such as rags or shoddy are subjected to those treatments .in order to separate the wool fibers from the vegetable fibers. In order to accomplish this, the materials are first thoroughly dried to eliminate any inherent moisture, and subsequently subjected to a higher temperature sufiicient to completely carbonize the vegetable fibers, thereby leaving the wool fibers as a residue. In carrying out a process, such as outlined, two different atmospheric conditime must prevail, viz: a humidified atmoshere resulting from the moisture eliminailon in the first step, and an absolutely dry atmosphere necessary in efiecting the ear '7, into two compartments,

: process may these conditions be confined to separate since the presence of moisture carbonizmg stage would be detaccomplishing the desired reare supported. These walls are usually in the, form of interchangeable, fireproof, thermo-insulated panels, and, since their construction is well known ini machines of thls character, detailed illustrations of the same have been omitted from the drawings.

The inclosure 1, is subdivided by a horizontal longitudinal partition or diaphragm respectively in dlcated at 10, and 20. The upper compartment 10, which, for convenience will be termed the drying compartment, is subdivided as shown 1n Fig. II, by a vertical longitudinal partition 11, thereby afi'ording, in addition to a main or drying chamber 12, an auxiliary or heating chamber 13, Wherein in this instance, a bank of steam coils 14, is located. Circulation of the air entrapped in these chambers is constantly maintained through the instrumentality of a scrim of fans 15, operating in suitable openings 16, in the partition 11, the circuit being otherwise completed through an opening 17, in the top of said partition. An exhaust duct 18, serves topermit the escape of a portion of the recirculated air, thereby preventing excessive saturation which tends to retard the drying operation.

The lower compartment 20, is similarly subdivided by a vertical partition 21, into a carbonizing chamber 22, and an auxiliary or' heating chamber 23. A series of fans 25, mounted inopening's26, in the partition- 21, serve tocirculate the air through the chambers 22; and 23, which also inter-com Specification of-Letterslatent. Patent d D 3% 1915p Application filed February 19, 1919. Serial n6.

at 1,.having a skeleton or frame- :24, located in the chamber 23. The materials under treatment, are progressed through the upper or drying chamber 10, by means of a series of conveyors 30, 31. In the illustration, only two have been shown, but it is to be understood that the number may be varied according to specific requirements of the treatment desired. Of these conveyors, the upper one indicated at 30, is driven by sprockets or pulleys 32, 33. Pulley 32, is located in a plane at a considerable distance below that of pulley 33, and the former is journaled beyond the confines of the inclosure upon a bracket or extension 34, of the skeleton framework of the machine.

'Within the inclosure the conveyers 30, follow a horizontal path which is determined through the cooperation of a pair of idlers 35, 35, with the pulley 33, while on the exterior it deviates from the horizontal, and follows a downward. inclination between the idlers and pulley 32, so as to be readily accessible for loading purposes. The lower or return conveyor 31, is mounted upon pulleys or sprockets 36, 37. The materials indicated at M, after passing through the entire length of the chamber 12, upon conveyer 30, are transferred to the lower conveyer 31, the transfer being facilitated by a guard or deflecting plate 38. Contemporaneously with the progression of the materials through the drying chamber as above noted, they are subjected to the air circuits set up by the circulating fans 15, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. II, the speed of movement of the conveyors being so governed as to afford the requisite time interval for thorough drying.

As hereinbefore stated, the chambers 12, and 22, are designed to be employed for separate and distinct purposes under different atmospheric conditions, so that no interior communication between them is permissible. Therefore, in order to transfer the materials for treatment to the lower compartment, the conveyer 31, delivers the same at one end of the machine to the exterior, and through the assistance of a second guard or deflecting plate 39, the materials are guided to a conveyer 40, which travels through the carbonizing chamber 22. This conveyer is similarly mounted upon sprockets or pulleys 41, 4:2, and after passing through the compartment, discharges the materials, as shown at the right hand end of Fig. I. Here again the materials are subjected to the influence of the heated air circuits established by the fans 25, but in this instance, the temperature is maintained at a comparatively higher point in order to carbonize the vegetable fibers as hereinbefore ex lained.

hile we have designated the chambers 12, 22, respectively, as drying and carbonizing compartments it is obvious that they may be employed for many other purposes.

It will be readily seen that the .machine constructed according to our invention is not only conservative with respect to floor space occupied, but ccmiomical from the fact that the metallic diaphragms serve as heat radiating elements between adjacent compartments, thereby aifortling an appreciable saving in steam consumption.

As a result of this construction, we have provided a unitary structure in which a plurality of distinct and separate operations may be continuously performed upon a constantly moving mass of the materials under treatment, together with a unique system of conveyance, whereby the materials are successively transferred from one compartment to another without in any way interfering with complete isolation of the several stages of operations necessary in processes of this character. 1

Since our improvement is adaptable to many uses, we do not wish to confine ourselves to the precise number of compartments or conveyers herein shown, since these may be multiplied indefinitely without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an inclosure subdivided by partitions into a series of separate superimposed compartments; means for maintaining different atmospheric conditions in the said'compartments to the exclusion of any relative modifying influence between them; and means for successively progressing the materials to be treated through the said compartments.

2. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of an inclosure subdivided by partitions into a series of separate superimposed compartments; vertical partitions separatin each of the said compartments into a main treating chamber and an auxiliary chamber; atmospheric modifying means located in each of the said auxiliary chambers; means for circulating the air between each of the said main treating chambers and the corresponding auxiliary chamber; and means for successively progressing the materials to be treated through the said compartments.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an inclosure subdivided by partitions into a series of separate, inde pendent, superimposed compartments; conveyer means passing through each compartment; and means for transferring the materials from the conveyer means of one compartment to the conveyer means of an adjaby partitions into a series of separate superimposed compartments, and a plurality of conveyers passing through the compartments, the delivery end of a set of conveyers of one compartment and the receiving end of the set of conveyers of an adjacent compartment extending beyond the confines of the inclosure to permit the transfer of the materials from one compartment to another.

5. In a machine of the class described, a

the combination of an inclosure subdivided into a series of separate, independent treating compartments wherein different conditions are required; and conveyer means passing through eachcompartment; the conveyer means of two successive compartments being adapted to transfer the materials from the one to the other outside'the confines of said inclosure, Without relativemodifying influence between the compartments.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto THOMAS ALLSOP. WALTER W; SIBSON.

Witnesses:

' JAMES BELL, E. L. FULLERToN.

signed our names at' Philadelphia, Penn- 's ylvania, this fourth day of February, 1919. p 

